Ikhwanweb :: The Muslim Brotherhood Official English Website

Struggling over civilisation

A Lebanese fundamentalist group signs a document of understanding with Hizbullah. Syria and Russia are snuggling up to each other. Iran is allying with Hamas and Hizbullah (and, perhaps soon, with all other politically and culturally anti- Western ..

Are Arabs fit for democracy?

A year and half ago Mauritania witnessed the first free democratic elections in the Arab world. This was not only because there was real competition between more than one candidate, but also because it came after a military coup led by Ould Mohamed Fal that ended the rule of former Mauritanian President Maaouiya Ould ..

The uses of democracy

Although many Islamist movements and parties have resolved their theological dilemma with respect to democracy and democratic practices, these parties and movements exhibit vast discrepancies between them in their understanding and internal application of democratic standards. As important as a commitment to democracy has become as a means to optimise their social and political gains, some Islamists still doubt the value of democracy as the most effective means for ..

Face-off with Facebook

Mohamed El-Sayed discovers how flying a kite with the colours of the Egyptian flag and singing patriotic songs now constitute an attempt "to topple the regime" ..

This state cannot survive

When Amnon Rubinstein speaks, many people in Israel listen. As an intellectual who has held the posts of minister of education and of justice, Rubinstein commands the respect of the Israeli elite regardless of their intellectual and political leanings. And yet Rubinstein surprised Israelis when in interview with Hebrew Radio in mid-April he anticipated that the Israeli state would not survive...

Spirits of 1968

In May 1968, student protests in Paris challenged the foundations of the social order in the heart of the industrially advanced West. Al-Ahram Weekly investigates what remains of the wave of student activism that swept the world 40 years ago and recalls events at the time in Egypt ..

Safer streets?

On Sunday the People’s Assembly voted in favour of amending the 1973 traffic law. The vote followed criticism from opposition MPs and several independent newspapers of the tough penalties contained in the draft bill which could, some argued, ignite social unrest...

Days of protest

The confrontation between Egyptian physicians and the government entered a new stage last week when, on 23 April, amid intense security, doctors staged peaceful protests at their syndicate headquarters in Cairo, its local branches, and in public hospitals across Egypt...

Facing Facebook

Rumours abound that the government is considering closing down access to Facebook, the website that has become a favourite venue for Egypt’s disaffected young. But what good will it do..

Backing into the future

It has been 80 years since Hassan El-Banna founded the Muslim Brotherhood. During this period, the organisation evolved from a small community association based in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia to an international movement traversing the Islamic world with a distinct theological and ideological school, off of which have branched a host of other Islamist movements of varying shades from liberal to militant...

Marginalia: Suspended until further notice

"Are the Arabs ready for a literary revolution?" the cover of the Extra section of the British daily The Independent asked on 15 April, the day following the opening of the London Book Fair (14-16 April), an event which this year designated the Arab publishing industry as "market focus"...

Amr Hamzawy: Policy Fusion

Dialogue with European politicians and decision-makers on Arab issues has a flavour of its own..

Judgement day

Tuesday’s ruling by a military court sentencing 25 members of the Muslim Brotherhood to jail for up to 10 years while acquitting a further 15 is likely to deal a crippling blow to the group and drain it of financial resources...

Love and resistance

By his own admission in Cairo on Tuesday night, composer, oud player and singer Marcel Khalifa’s timing is perfect. His concert, after all, was being performed as Egypt witnessed multi-faceted acts of protest and against the backdrop of mass detentions of Muslim Brotherhood members as well as of supporters of the planned general strike of 6 April...

Riding the storm

Though 6 April started with a sandstorm the restricted vision it caused could not conceal the large number of security personnel and armoured vehicles that were patrolling likely points of assembly for anyone seeking to turn the call for a general strike into a series of mass demonstrations. Organising a protest became the equivalent of mission impossible. There was a bonus spin-off, however. Cairo’s often impassable streets were rendered navigable, given that so many people had decide..

Separating prayers and politics

Amid wide opposition from independent parliamentary members -- mainly belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group -- the People’s Assembly late last week passed a controversial law banning public demonstrations inside or near places of worship. ..

Polling pretence

Reporting on the recent Iranian elections, Egyptian media said that the outcome was decided beforehand, noting that the Guardian Council had banned many candidates because of their political views. In other words, the Iranian elections were flawed because opponents were excluded from the race...

Doctors’ days

In his opening speech to the ceremony marking Doctors’ Day, celebrated on 18 March every year, Hamdi El-Sayed, chairman of the Doctors Syndicate, noted that, "this year the day is being celebrated under unusual circumstances." Indeed it is...

No competition

With more than 90 per cent of the ruling NDP’s candidates standing unopposed in next month’s municipal election no one doubts the results...

Fait accompli?

Opposition parties and human rights organisations have complained that the ministries of interior and local development are placing numerous obstacles in the way of those wanting to register as candidates in municipal elections due to be held on 8 April...